Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I really like the visiting stylist and want to hire them?

That’s great! Remember that our mission at ShearShare is to help beauty and barbering professionals maximize their earnings potential while keeping businesses open! It really is a great outcome if both parties are thrilled that they found each other on ShearShare and want to make it long-term. We only ask that you let us know when you are offering a booth rent contract to the visiting stylist. Just email us at hello@shearshare.com 😉

I am a California salon or barbershop owner. How does the new Dynamex ruling affect me?

One of the biggest questions we’ve received over the last few weeks is, “I’m a California salon owner. Can I still use ShearShare?”

Can I book space on ShearShare to sell retail products in salons and barbershops?

No. In order to rent space on the ShearShare app, you must hold either a current cosmetology or barber license. Our authorized hosts provide workspace for licensed professionals who are servicing clientele. We would love to support your business but cannot send our ShearShare host bookings for retail sales.

What is ShearShare?

ShearShare is the only B2B beauty platform that connects salon, spa, and barbershop owners to licensed cosmetologists and barbers to fill unused suites and booths on demand. No long-term contract, no minimum commitment. With ShearShare, you can rent salon space by the day . . . whenever, wherever!

Is there a referral program?

Yes, we do have referral rewards for all ShearShare fans! You can earn $5 for every ShearShare Host (barbershop, spa, or salon owner) you refer, and $20 for every Stylist. You can visit this page to sign up or learn more.

Why do Cosmetologists and Barbers like ShearShare?

“I don’t want to commit to a long-term contract. ShearShare provides me with professional space to work, but I still have tons of flexibility.”

“I switched from weekly booth rental to ShearShare. It’s really fun to work in different and new salons, and I’m also saving money. Plus, my clients are happier to meet in locations that are more convenient for them.”

“ShearShare has been a life saver! As a traveling stylist, I enjoy being able to book temporary salon space in just a few clicks. It puts me at ease to know that I can service my out-of-town clients in a professional salon environment. This service is totally genius.”

“I just graduated from beauty school. I love the idea of being able to pay daily instead of renting per week or month since I’m building up my clientele from scratch.”

“I’m working on some projects outside of beauty, and I only want to work 2-3 days/week in a salon. ShearShare has been phenomenal for providing professional space whenever I need it.”

“I’ve been working in LA for 12 years, and I’ve had clients move all over the metro area. Now I can meet my clients and work from gorgeous salons in different parts of town. I love it, and they love it!”

“Moving to a new city was really daunting, but ShearShare gave me the opportunity to try out different salons and gradually build out a new clientele.”

“I love the ability to be able to pop in wherever is most convenient to my clients. It’s also nice to break up the monotony of being in the same location every single day.”

“I didn’t think I’d have many options to work as a new mom. But with ShearShare, I can move all my clients to 1-2 days in a salon, and then have my time with the family.”

“I travel frequently and do a lot of destination weddings. I much prefer working in a professional space vs. a hotel room with terrible lighting and never enough plugs.”

“My partner travels a lot for work. Now, I can come along and work in great salons all over the country!”

“As a mobile stylist, ShearShare has made life worth living! It’s so simple to use and cuts the brunt work of trying to figure out new areas, salon environments, and availability in half.”

“I use ShearShare because I need a new space to do skincare. Don’t want the commitment of opening my own place…been there, done that!”

Who can rent ShearShare space?

Any licensed practitioner with a current cosmetology or barber license can rent ShearShare space. If you are a licensed barber, hairstylist, esthetician, nail tech, massage therapist, or makeup artist, you can lease temporary salon, spa, and barbershop space through ShearShare!

Am I allowed to work in another state if I’m not licensed in that state?

Yes. If you have a current cosmetology or barber license and want to work in another state, you may do so on a temporary basis when traveling for a special event. When you travel, you must carry a copy of your professional license. For example, some of our stylists work in another state when they travel as platform artists. Others travel for events such as popup salons or destination weddings. Sanitation and liability requirements still apply.

There’s no upfront cost to access the ShearShare platform. Daily rates for each salon and barbershop are viewable in our iOS app and Android app. The price you see is the price you pay.

To help cover the costs of running ShearShare, we charge a service fee every time a reservation is confirmed. The amount of the service fee varies and is based on a percentage of the reservation total. Service fees typically range between 7-15% but can be higher or lower depending on the region and reservation.

Is the backbar and towel service included in the daily rate?

Yes, most of our salons and barbershops provide towel service and access to the backbar (shampoo/conditioner only). More information is included in the Listing Details for each salon in our iOS app and Android app. If you have additional questions about products or services, you can chat with your Host once your reservation has been accepted.

What if I have questions for the Host about my reservation?

Once your reservation has been accepted, you will have the ability to chat with your Host directly from our iOS app and Android app. You can find the Chat feature in the Reservation Details screen. Be sure to have push notifications enabled so you don’t miss any messages.

How do I book with ShearShare?

It’s easy. Here’s a 1-minute video that walks through the process.
Download our free iOS app or Android app.
Open the app and type in the city where you want to work.
Tap on “CHOOSE FILTERS” and select your preferred dates, workspace type, pricing, and amenities.
Select a listing from the available inventory and tap on “BOOK.”
Enter your payment details and tap on “DONE.”
Congrats! You’ve just created a reservation request. You’ll be notified via push notification when your Host has accepted your request. Be sure that push notifications are enabled for ShearShare on your device.

When am I charged for my ShearShare booking?

When you make a reservation using the ShearShare app, we request your credit card details. However, your credit card is not charged until your salon, spa, or barbershop Host accepts your reservation (usually within 24 hours).

I’d like to rent temporary salon or barbershop space today. Is that an option?

Yes and no. In order to help our Hosts better prepare for visiting cosmetologists and barbers, booking requests made via the ShearShare app require at least 24 hours notice.
However, in many cases we may be able to fulfill your same-day request. If you fall into this category, please call our offices at (562) 7-SHEARS. One of our enthusiastic team members will be happy to assist!

What are my options for processing customer payments while on the go?

As a visiting cosmetologist or barber, you are responsible for handling the payments of your customers. Most visiting stylists use 1stPayMobile or Square (or an alternative) for processing clients’ debit or credit cards.

If you’re in need of a service to process mobile payments on the go, ShearShare has partnered with First American Payments to offer (1) FREE hardware/card reader and (2) the lowest processing fees in the industry! To learn more and to sign up, click here.

I made a ShearShare reservation but have not received confirmation. What do I do?

If you have made a ShearShare reservation and not received acceptance of your booking within 48 hours, please dial us at (562) 7-SHEARS, and we’ll work to confirm your booking immediately.

I have a cosmetology or barber license, but it has expired. Am I still able to rent ShearShare space?

No. In order to lease ShearShare space, you must have a current cosmetology or barber license.

What is the cancellation policy?

Cancel up to 48 hours before your ShearShare stay to receive a full refund, minus an 8% fee. If you book within 24 hours and cancel, no refund will be remitted.

ShearShare service fees are non-refundable. ShearShare bookings are by the day. If the visiting stylist reserves multiple days and decides to leave early after arrival, the days not spent in the salon or barbershop are not refunded.

If there is a complaint from either the ShearShare Host or visiting stylist, notice must be given to ShearShare within 4 hours of checkin. ShearShare will mediate when necessary and has the final say in all disputes.

A reservation is officially canceled when the visiting stylist completes two actions:
(1) Clicks the cancellation button on the confirmation page, which you can find in Reservations > Reservation Details > Cancel
(2) Sends an email to hello@shearshare.com listing your name, date canceling, and ShearShare Host name and location.

Cancellation policies may be superseded by extenuating circumstances or cancellations by ShearShare for any other reason permitted under the Terms of Use. Please review these exceptions.

Why do Hosts like ShearShare?

“I usually have at least one empty chair, so it’s nice to be able to fill the space with a vetted stylist.”

“ShearShare is now part of my sales pitch for new stylists when I lease my suites. Instead of turning them away because they can’t afford weekly booth rent, I tell them to rent my space on the ShearShare app.”

“Signed up and in 48 hours had my first booking. Then a repeat in less than a month. Love this.”

“ShearShare stylists are professional and have their own clientele. We don’t have to worry about new hire training. It’s really easy and convenient for us to host them.”

“Using the app as a host is so rewarding! It’s easy to navigate, a great networking tool and a great way to earn extra revenue if/when you have empty chairs.”

“It’s costly to run a salon, and this is a really nice way to lower my overhead.”

“These days it’s difficult to get a stylist to sign a long-term contract. We’re using ShearShare to provide more flexibility, and it also helps us operate at full capacity.”

“We care a lot about our culture, and we want to bring in stylists with the right energy. ShearShare is a great way to have stylists come in on a trial basis, to see how they work with the rest of our team.”

“I’m always interested in new technology, and love trying out new platforms that can help to make our business successful.”

“I sometimes rent out my entire salon for events, or when a celebrity wants privacy. ShearShare has been good for bringing us new opportunities.”

Who can list space on ShearShare?

Any licensed salon, barbershop, or spa owner can list their available space on ShearShare.

How do I list my salon, spa, or barbershop on ShearShare?

The process is simple. To get started listing your salon, spa, or barbershop space on the ShearShare app, please fill out this form. Once submitted, a member of our intake team will contact you within 48-72 hours to complete your listing.

**Note: We are experiencing a record number of inquires and working hard to handle each one with attention and care. Please be patient with us, as the process to become an authorized ShearShare host may be longer than expected.

Is there a cost to list with ShearShare?

There’s no cost to list your space on the ShearShare platform.

To help cover the costs of processing payments, we charge salon and barbershop owners a tiny 3% host booking fee for the credit card transaction and a 5% service fee every time a reservation is completed. Consider it a sort of “shipping and handling” cost of salon/spa/barbershop sharing. The amount of this service fee is calculated from the Host’s requested day rate.

Do ShearShare stylists only work during a Host’s normal business hours?

About 99% of stylists work during the Host’s normal business hours. However, if you’d like to extend business hours for your visiting stylist or barber, we can specify that time within the salon rules section of your listing.

As a Host, do I need to provide access to the backbar and towel service?

Yes, most of our salons and barbershops provide these services and price their daily rates accordingly. You can provide specific details about your services when you create the Listing Details for your space.

How do I choose a daily rate for my space?

You can view available salons and barbershops in your city via our iOS app or Android app to get a sense for daily rates in your area. If you have additional questions, our pricing team will work with you during the onboarding process.

Does ShearShare provide advertising support for its Hosts?

Yes. Once our ShearShare Hosts approve their listing(s), our team will post a promotion on our company Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook channels. Here is an example.

How soon can my temporary salon or barbershop space be listed on the ShearShare app?

Once you’ve filled out the “Become a Host” form, our intake team will move into action and start building your listing on the ShearShare app. Within 48 hours, you will receive an introductory email from our Operations team to gather a few additional notes. Within 72 hours of your response, you will be notified that your listing is ready for your review. As soon as you approve your listing, you will be officially live and can begin to advertise to your networks!

As a ShearShare Host, how do I receive notification that I have a booking request?

Make sure that you have downloaded the ShearShare iOS app or Android app, that you’re signed in with the mobile number you provided when signing up, and that push notifications are enabled for ShearShare. Booking notifications go straight to your phone.

Once a booking request for your salon, spa, or barbershop has been made, the ShearShare app will send a push notification to your mobile device. When you receive the notification, open the ShearShare app, go to “Requests” to review the booking request, and then tap either accept or reject.

What information can I review about the stylist or barber before accepting their reservation?

When you receive a booking request, you’ll be able to review the stylist’s photo, ShearShare rating, licensed specialty, years of experience, and a personal introduction.

Is there a way to have multiple admins for a single Host?

No. At this time, only one mobile number can be associated with a single Host account.

Should I expect to receive a tax form from ShearShare?

The U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requires U.S. companies that process payments, including ShearShare, to report gross earnings for all U.S. users who earn over $20,000 and have 200+ transactions within the calendar year. If you exceed both IRS thresholds in a calendar year, we will issue you a Form 1099-K.

We encourage you to consult a tax professional for assistance reporting your income.

Are background checks performed on ShearShare users?

No. Background checks–either for the visiting cosmetologist/barber or the Host–are at the sole discretion of the user.

ShearShare is a matching service, must like monster.com or match.com, where we only allow licensed beauty professionals to use the ShearShare platform. Once a booking request has been made, ShearShare connects the stylist to the Host to discuss specifics. At that time, each individual is free to go through any additional vetting and/or background checks.

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